MACR PILOT: 2Lt Bernard L. Painter O-926819
MACR #: 13572
Fiche #: 04952
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 350th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: SE
Intended Destination: Ruhland
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 1 -2/10 cloud cover
Give
Date: March 21, 1945
Time: 09:40
Location: 5115 - 1300E
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss: Attacked by ME 262's
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 4141854
B: SW-029020
C: SW-015037
D: SW-029591
Weapons
A: 132064
B: 1320716
C: 1321295
D: 1326682
E: 1157863
F: 1321441
G: 1326625
H: 1135703
I: 1138432
J: 1133997
L: 1320887
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 9
Pass: 0
Total: 9
Personnel
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Bernard L. Painter | 2Lt | O-926819 |
| CP | Charles W. Higginbotham | 2Lt | O-829352 |
| NAV (N) | Daniel Marin | 2Lt | T-134724 |
| BOM (B) | Herbert Singer | SSgt | 32573869 |
| RAD | Arthur B MacNeil | SSgt | 33745022 |
| ENG | Virgil S. Downing | SSgt | 34614908 |
| BAL | Wallace R. Matzdorf | Sgt | 36842250 |
| WG (W) | Emil E. Havelka | Sgt | 38561238 |
| WG (W) | |||
| TG (T) | Donald A. Becker | Sgt | 15400756 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| David C. Hutchinson | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-773881 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Persons seen walking away from crash
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| 100A was attacked by five ME 262's at 0940 hours 5153 - 1314E. A/C 44-8615, which was straggling with another A/C two miles behind the formation, was observed to be hit in the left wing, which exploded and went down in a tight spin. Three chutes were seen, two of which were reported to be on fire. (D. C. Hutchinson) | ||
| Following from Bernard L. Painter, the sole survivor from this crew in July 1945; We were scheduled to bomb Ruhland, Germany on March 21, 1945. Fifteen (15) minutes before the target we lost N0#1 engine due to a mechanical failure (Supercharger). We were forced ot leave the formation and to salvo our bombs. We accomplished this and were rejoining the formation when attacked by several ME 262 Jet Fighter planes. Although our gunners were firing at them constantly, they were able to shoot out #2 engine and set it on fire, foul the controls rendering them useless and scored several hits in the nose section, setting it on fire. I immediately gave the order to abandon ship and went below to aid the men in the nose, but was unable to accomplish this because of the fire and was forced to bail out at approximately 18,000 feet. I opened my chute immediately in an effort to drift toward the Russian lines. I counted five (5) chutes below me and I can presume they were crew members from the rear of the ship who jumped when we were at 22,500 and made a delayed jump. I have had no contact with the crew since that time. I have written all of the next of kin and given them what I could of the above details. I will also try to call on many of them personally. I would appreciate any information you receive concerning the missing men forwarded to me and I will do likewise with any received through other airmen." It is Lt. Painter's believe that those surviving parachute jump were killed by the Germans on the ground. There are several confirmed reports of such incidences occuring in the later part of the war. Pw |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: GEORGE D. ALLEN Capt Air Corps Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: March 26, 1945
